Here, you are urged and encouraged to run your mouths about something important.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Is 'Gradualism' the Biggest Islamic Threat to the West?

Call it the Islamic version of progressivism, incremental nudges that change a culture and society until the point of no return is reached. Yet another example that shows the left has much in common with Islam. Consider the tactics of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and those of al-Qaeda. Both are essentially Muslim Brotherhood groups who share the same goal - an Islamic caliphate. However, CAIR has been far more effective because it works within the framework of a political system while al-Qaeda uses bombings and terrorism.

One of the mistakes that the West makes is that it doesn’t listen to what the Islamists are saying. If only we listened, we could hear their strategy. On November 20, Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, the top Muslim Brotherhood theologian and arguably the most influential Sunni cleric in the world, called on Muslims to embrace “gradualism.”

The doctrine of gradualism is successful because we fail to appreciate the ability of the Islamists to be skillful political strategists. Gradualism is an intelligent form of jihad based on pragmatism, patience, long-term planning and self-evaluation. The Islamists evaluate their performance and recalibrate their strategy accordingly. The West misinterprets this as being “moderate,” when in reality, not all Islamists are as reckless as Al-Qaeda.

“Gradualism in applying the Sharia is a wise requirement to follow,” Qaradawi declared, stating that Mohammed followed it.

The Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, have always worked in stages. In December, the Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide, Mohamed Badi, outlined six phases: Sharia over the individual; Sharia over the family; Sharia over the society; Sharia over the government; the resurrection of the Caliphate and finally, “mastership of the world.” The Muslim Brotherhood is in the process of completing the fourth phase in Egypt.